Profile rail connection



July 22, 1969 H. MULLER 3,456,965

PROFILE RAIL CONNEbTION Filed Jan. 20, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORHEK/Vfil/A/ MJZLER BY wai /l y luniq CMQOIIMIZYK July 223, 1969 H.MULLER PROFILE RAIL CONNECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1967Ill/l III United States Patent US. Cl. 287189.36 9 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Profile rail connection arrangement for interconnectingat least two profile rail members with one another which extendsubstantially transversely to one another. One of the rail memberscarries at one end bearing against the other rail member a pair ofholding means, for instance in the form of claw members, intended toengage with appropriate longitudinally extending ribs or shoulders atthe other rail member against which abuts said end of said one railmember. Mechanism cooperates with the claw members for elasticallydeforming the one rail member carrying said claw members to enable saidclaw members to detachably fixedly engage with or be released from saidlongitudinally extending ribs or shoulders of the other rail member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedprofile rail connection means wherein the profile rail members to beinterconnected are disposed substantially transverse to one another andpreferably possess at least a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration. The invention contemplates that the profile members canbe releasably interconnected quite simply and quickly in order to beable to form the most varied types of structural units, such as forinstance display stands, exhibition rooms, loading or storagestructures, book cases, shelves, partition walls, scaffolds, frameworks, and so forth, only to mention a few.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is toprovide means which are as simple as possible for the reliableconnection of profile rail members which are disposed substantiallytransverse to one another.

Another, more specific object of the present invention deals with animproved profile rail connection means for the quick, reliable, easyinterconnection of at least two profile rail members with one anotherwhich are disposed substantially transverse to one another.

Still another noteworthy object of this invention is directed toimproved mechanism for interconnecting profile rail members with oneanother in a reliable and quick manner, in order to provide a positiveand secure interconnection between such profile rail members, yet alsoenabling rapid and easy disassembly or detachment of such profile railmembers from one another.

Another important object of the present invention deals with theprovision of improved means for interconnecting profile rail memberswith one another in order to form the most varied type of differentstructural units, and where the connecting means are not only simple inconstruction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, but further,provide an absolutely secure and positive releasable connection betweenthe profile rail members when the latter are to be assembled, yet alsoenables disassembly of these profile rail members in an equally easy andrapid manner.

Generally speaking, the present invention is manifested by the featuresthat the profile members externally exhibit 3,456,966 Patented July 22,1969 longitudinally extending portions, preferably in the form oflongitudinal ribs or shoulders, and two holding claw means are providedat the end of one of said profile rail members which bear against one ofthe other profile rail members. Furthermore, connecting means forinstance in the form of a screw or eccentric connection are provided andby means of which an elastic deformation of the profile rail membercarrying the claw means can be brought about, so that the claw means canselectively engage behind or cause to release from engagement with thelongitudinally extending portions of the other profile rail member.

Owing to the inventive construction it is possible to perfect, by verysimple means, a detachable connection between profile rail members,whereby also a number of profile rail members can protrude or depend atthe same elevational position from a common profile rail member.Additionally, the end faces of the profile rail members which are to beinterconnected need not possess any special configuration, rather it isabsolutely sufficient to cut such along a parting plane which extendstransverse to the longitudinal direction of the rail member and whichseparation or parting cut can for instance be carried out upon aconventional saw or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be betterunderstood, and objects other than those set forth above, will becomeapparent, when consideration is given to the following detaileddescription thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexeddrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, perspective View illustrating the connectionbetween two profile rail members;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a profile rail memberwith inserted holding claw means or the like;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view depicting details of the holding clawmeans shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a modified form of holding claw means, also shown inperspective view;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing details of the eccentric meansused with the holding claw means shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing details of a possible form ofsmall cover plate which can be used with the arrangement of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a different form of profile railmember;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further form of profile railmember;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of still a further form of profilerail member; and

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of a profile rail member formed oftwo parts or components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings,and initially turning attention to FIGURE 1 it will be recognized thatboth of the hollow profile rail members 1, 2 thereof have the same,cross-like cross-sectional configuration and are preferably formed ofaluminum of an aluminum alloy or steel. The profile of these railmembers 1 and 2 is closed, as shown, and the material is resilientwithin certain limits. Each of these profile rail members 1 and 2possesses four flat surfaces 3, each of which is at about right anglesto one another. Between each two of these neighboring fiat surfaces 3there is located a longitudinal groove 4 which also extends in thelengthwise direction of the associated rail member 1 or 2. These profilerail members 1 and 2 are hollow, as already explained, and further,include a shoulder means 5 at the inside near each leg memher 5a. As aresult, there is formed an appropriate hollow compartment 6 which issuitable for the insertion of holding claw means 7.

Now, the details of such holding claw means 7 are best recognized byreferring to FIGURE 3. Such holding claw means 7 is comprised of arespective pair of elongate metallic members 7a, each preferably havinga substantially rectangular cross-sectional form and preferablyhardened. These two metal members 7a in the form of claws are operablyinterconnected with one another by means of a threaded connection, suchas the screw means 8. This screw means 8 is disposed about at thecentral region of the holding claw means 7 and has a head portion 9equipped with an internal hexagonal recess or opening 9a. This headportion 9 is sunk or fitted into one of the holding claw members 7a, sothat the front face of said head portion 9 extends approximately flushto the outer surface of the aforesaid holding claw member 7a.

A pressure spring means 10 is disposed between both of the holding clawmembers 7a of the holding claw means 7, and this pressure spring means10 tends to spread both of the holding claw members 7a from one another.Further, both of these holding claw members 7a of the holding claw means7 are deeply pushed into the one end of the profile rail member 2, andspecifically, to such an extent that the forward beveled or inclinedportion 11 of each of these holding claw members 7a still projects outof the aforesaid profile rail member 2. Moreover, in such profile railmember 2 there is provided a hole or opening 12, or equivalentstructure, at one location which coincides with the hexagonal opening 9aof the head portion 9, so that by inserting into said hexagonal opening9a a suitable hexagonal key or tool the screw means 8 can be rotatedfrom the outside. Consequently, depending upon the direction of rotationof such screw means 8 both of the holding claw members 7a are eitherspread away from one another or drawn together, with simultaneouselastic deformation of the leg ends of the profile rail member 2.

Now, in order to limit the deformation a spacer or distancing element 26is seated upon the shaft of the screw means 8 and against which spacerelement the inner surfaces 27 come to bear. When the holder claw members7a are spread away from one another it is possible to engage behind theprotruding longitudinally extending portions 14, preferably in the formof lengthwise ribs or shoulders, of the other rail member 1, by means ofthe inwardly directed projecting portions 13 of each of the holding clawmembers 7a of the holding claw means. Thereafter, by appropriatelydrawing these holding claw means 7a together by means of the screwmember 8 there is obtained a rigid detachable connection between both ofthe profile rail members 1 and 2, wherein one rail member extends atapproximately right angles to the other rail member and two respectiveexternal flat surfaces 3 of both of the profile rail members 1, 2 aresituated in the same planes. The spreading of the profile rail member 2carrying the holding claw means 7 is achieved in that, the bore oropening 12 is smaller than the screw head portion 9, whereby the latterabuts against the confronting inner wall.

In order that a number of profile rail members can, for instance, beconnected to depend or project from a vertical post or profile member 1at the same elevation and substantially transverse to such post orprofile rail member 1, the protruding portion 11 of each of the holdingclaw members 7a of the holding claw means 7 is provided with an inclinedsurface 15. Each such inclined surface 15 preferably extends at an angleof about 45 to the longitudinal axis of the associated profile railmember in which such holder or holding claw means 7 is mounted.Consequently, and as best seen by inspecting FIGURE 8, it is possible toarrange a number of profile rail members at the same elevation with theaid of the inserted holding claw means 7, without these holding clawmeans 7 interfering with one another. Now, if only a single profile railmember extends laterally from another profile rail member or two clampedprofile rail members extend to opposite sides, then it is possible tomount a small cover plate member 16 at the attachment location for thepurpose of covering the gap. This small cover plate member 16 isadvantageously provided with retaining lips or flaps 17 which canresiliently engage behind the holder claw members 7a of the holder orholding claw means 7.

By referring to the embodiment of holder or holding claw means shown inFIGURE 4, it will be recognized that the individual holder or holdingclaw members 7a can be interconnected with one another through theagency of tongue means or flaps 18 and eccentric means 19 in lieu of thescrew means 8 of the embodiment of FIGURE 3. In this case, the accessopening for the head portion of the screw is applied at one side of therail member which is displaced through about as shown, relative to theembodiment of FIGURE 3. The tongues or flaps 18 engage behind a shouldermeans 21 of the holding claw members 7a of the holding claw means orunit 7. Details of the eccentric means 19 are depicted in FIGURE 5 andsuch eccentric mean is seen to comprise two eccentrically mounted discs.One of the tongues or flaps 18 would be attached to each of theeccentrically mounted discs as shown in FIGURE 4. As should be apparent,by rotating the eccentric means or coupling 19, the tongues or flaps 18attached thereto will be relatively displaced causing displacement ofthe holding claw members 7a towards or away from one another withsimultaneous elastic deformation of the leg ends of the profile member 2in which the claw members are inserted.

Continuing, it is to be distinctly understood that the construction ofthe profile rail member or members is not limited to the physicalconstruction of profile rail member depicted in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1 and 2, rather the girders or side faces of the substantiallycrossshaped profile rail members could also be of dissimilar or unequallength, as such has been depicted by the profile rail member 28 of theembodiment of FIGURE 7. Here, it will be noticed that the parallelgirders or side faces 28a are of different length than the other pair ofparallel side faces 28b.

In the event that a larger stiffening or reinforcement of the profilerail member is desired in one direction, then it is advantageous toselect a form of the profile rail member as such is shown in FIGURE 8,wherein both of the central webs 20 are continuous, in other wordsextend from one parallel side face 20a up to the opposite parallel sideface 20b. With regard to the form of profile rail member 21 shown inFIGURE 8, it can be advantageous to construct the holding claw means 7in such a manner ;hat the holding claw members 7a narrow towards theront.

Further, in FIGURE 9 there is depicted a profile rail member 29 providedwith shoulder means 24. This form of profile rail member 29 isparticularly suitable for its rfnanufacture from steel and, therefore,can take up larger orces.

Finally, the profile rail member 50 depicted in FIG- URE 10 comprises afirst portion or member 31 and a second portion or member 32 formedexactly like the first portion 31. Both of these profile rail portions31 and 32 are pushed into one another, in other words telescopicallyinterfitted, so that the respective parallel pairs of legs 33, 34 ofthese profile rail portions 31, 32 overlap one another. Thecross-section of a profile rail member 50 which is assembled in themanner just considered is approximately cross-shaped and essentiallycorresponds to the embodiment of rail member 29 of FIGURE 9.Additionally, it will be recognized that at each of the legs of thissubstantially cross-shaped profile rail member 50 there is located apair of shoulders 35, 36 so that the outermost leg portion is wider thanthe throat portion 37 situated behind the shoulders 35, 36. This holdstrue for each of the four arms 51 of the profile rail member 50. Sinceboth of the profile rail portions 31 and 32 are of exactly the sameconstruction their production is quite simple. The length of the innerleg member 33 is selected such that it comes to bear with its end face33a upon the transverse web 38 of the other profile rail portion.

As further shown in FIGURE 10, in the respective openings of the outerarm portion there is inserted a respective holding claw member 40 and41, the form and construction of which can best be recognized by againreferring to FIGURE 3. These holding claw members 40, 41 serve tofixedly clamp the profile rail member 50 to another profile rail memberwhich is transversely disposed and of the same or different physicalconstruction. The two holding claw members 40 and 41 are operablyinterconnected with one another by a shaft screw 42, with the screw head43 being sunk or recessed, so that it extends flushly with the outersurface of the associated holding claw member, in this instance holdingclaw member 41. The holding claw member 40 facing away from or remotefrom the screw head 43 is provided with a threaded portion 44 into whichthreadably engages the threaded shaft screw 42.

At approximately the central region or portion of the profile railmember 50 there is disposed a spacer or distancing element 45 which ispiercingly penetrated by the shaft of the screw member 42. This spaceror distancing element 45 bears tightly against the neighboring legs 52of the profile rail portions 31 and 32, and upon tightening the screwmember 42 are pressed against the spacer element 45 to thereby limit thetightening operation. So that the inner hexagonal hole or recess 46 ofthe screw head 43, or for instance a screw slit or the like, isaccessible from externally of the profile rail member 50, a hole 47 orthe like is provided at a location corresponding to this recess 46. Upontightening of the screw 42, and therefore, during fixedly detachablyclamping of the holding claw members 40 and 41 at the transverselydisposed second profile rail member it is possible for both of theprofile rail portions 31 and 32 to displace relative to one anotheralong their respective parallel legs 33, 34. The same holds true inanalogous manner when releasing the connection, in which case then thedisplacement takes place in the opposite direction.

It would also be conceivable to construct both of the profile railportions 31, 32 such that the overlapping legs or leg portions 33, 34 atone half of the profile rail member are located at the outside and atthe other half of the profile rail member are located at the inside.Furthermore, it would be possible to prevent a transverse displacementof both of the profile rail portions 31, 32 in that, the end of the legportion 33 is extended at right angles to the latter, in other words ismade longer and extends at right angles to the leg portion 33 appearingin FIGURE 10, so that such extended portion then bears against the innersurface of the shoulder 35a.

For special fields of application it is also possible to subsequentlyconnect both of the profile rail portions 31 and 32 with one another,for instance by adhesively bonding such to one another or by securingone to the other by means of a spot welding connection.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, at least one pair of hollow profile rail meansdisposed substantially transversely with respect to one another, saidhollow profile rail means having an at least approximately cross-shapedcross-sectional configuration, said hollow profile rail means comprisingexternal, substantially longitudinally extending portions and furtherocmprising internal, substantially longitudinally extending shouldermeans; at least two separate holding claw members defining a pair, eachof said separate holding claw members being inserted into at least oneend of said hollow profile rail means such that said holding clawmembers each bear against said internal, substantially longitudinallyextending shoulder means of said profile rail means with a forwardportion of said holding claw members projecting out of said hollowprofile rail means, said holding claw members and specifically saidforward projecting portions thereof being adapted to bear against theother of said profile rail means; and connecting means cooperating withsaid holding claw members for drawing together said holding claw membersand for simultaneously effecting an elastic deformation of said profilerail means in which said holding claw members are inserted such thatsaid forward projecting portions of said pair of holding claw memberscan selectively and detachably engage behind or release from saidexternal, longitudinally extending portions of said other profile railmeans.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting meansincorporates screw means.

3. The combination as defined in claim. 1, wherein said connecting meansincorporates eccentric means.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said protrudingportions of said holding claw members are inclined at least about 45with respect to the longitudinal axis of the profile rail means at whichsaid holding claw means are inserted, so that it is possible to arrangeat a given profile rail means a number of profile rail means at the sameelevational position and extending substantially transverse to saidgiven profile rail means.

5. The combination as defined in claim. 1, wherein said connecting meanscomprises a screw member disposed subtantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction ofv said profile rail means, said screw memberengaging with both of said holding claw members for spreading or drawingtogether the end of said profile rail means provided with said holdingclaw means, said screw member having a screw head, said one profile railmeans being provided with a bore through a longitudinal extendingportion thereof providing access to said screw head for an insertabletool for acting upon said screw member, said screw head being largerthan said bore.

'6. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting meanscomprises eccentric means for spreading or drawing together said holdingclaw members and thus the end of said one profile rail means providedwith aid holding claw means, said eccentric means including twoeccentrically mounted discs and tongues connected with each of said twoeccentrically mounted discs.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of saidprofile rail means comprises two elongated interfitting rail portions ofsubstantially similar con struction, said connecting means including ascrew member, each of said rail portions including a leg member at eachside of said screw member extending substantially parallel to thelengthwise axis of said screw member along the length of said railportion, the leg members of said two rail portions at each side of saidscrew member being disposed in overlying fashion to one another alongthe longitudinal distance of said rail portions to define lines ofseparation in the longitudinal direction.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting meansincludes a screw member, a spacer element arranged at substantially thecentral region of said one profile rail means between said internalshoulder means, said screw member piercingly extending through saidspacer element, said spacer element bearing against said internalshoulder means when said holding claw members are tightened.

9. In combination, at least one pair of hollow elongated profile railmeans disposed substantially transversely in bearing relationship withrespect to one another, each of said profile rail means being ofsubstantially identical shape, each elongated profile rail means havingtwo pairs of parallel outer faces, each pair being disposed atsubstantially right angles to one another, the end of one of saidprofile rail means being adapted to bear against an outer face of theother profile rail means and lying in a plane perpendicularly disposedto the longitudinal axis of said one profile rail means, each profilerail means externally possessing substantially longitudinally extendingribs on each of said outer faces thereof and internally possessingsubstantially longitudinally extending shoulders, holding claw meansincluding at least two holding claw members provided at the end of oneof said profile rail means which bears against the other of said profilerail means, said holding claw members being inserted into said hollowprofile rail means in bearing relationship to said shoulders of saidprofile rail, and connecting means cooperating with said holding clawmeans for bringing about an elastic deformation of said one profile railmeans UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,361 4/ 1942 Ackerman. 2,942,899 6/1960 Rifken 285-191 X 3,345,790 10/ 1967 Cornelissen 52-476 CARL W.TOMLIN, Primary Examiner R. S. BRITIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.52476; 287-54

